Editor’s note: This commentary is by Andy Sebranek, a Burlington resident, who works as a server.
[L]ast month, I was in awe when the Vermont Senate advanced a bill that would raise the state’s minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2024. I knew a higher base pay for workers would help low-income Vermonters who have struggled with stagnant pay for years. But while it was a huge first step, the bill has once again left the tipped workers behind.
As a server for seven years, I have lived and supported myself off tips. Like me and my friends in the industry, there are over 14 million — or one out of every 12 — people who are employed in America’s food industry today. To rely mostly on tips is inconsistent and unreliable, making it almost impossible to make ends meet. The truth is, serving often means odd hours, few breaks, a lack of benefits and having to rely on the whims of customers for an income. This is the very reason I support raising Vermont’s tipped minimum wage — and it is imperative that we, the tipped workers, are also represented in the debate for raising the minimum wage.
It’s time thousands of Vermont workers made a real hourly wage before tips. Working in a restaurant is a demanding job that takes a particular dedication and skill that can only be obtained after years of experience. With minimum wage plus tips, restaurant workers would stay longer in their jobs and serving would quickly be recognized as a skilled craft, as it should be. A minimum wage increase for tipped workers, and for all Vermonters, would show their hard work is valued.
I grew up in the Midwest, in a single-parent household, among a loving network of other working-class folks. I am the first in my family to graduate from a university. Navigating the waters of life after college is twice as difficult for anyone not already buttressed by others who have done it before. As I find my way through the ever-changing job market, I have chosen the service industry as a way of supporting myself. I enjoy this work, and have chosen it over other occupations.
A common misconception is that increasing the minimum wage would only benefit teens working part-time for extra spending money. In fact, the majority of those who would benefit are college-educated adults like me – some older, others with families – whose tip-based job is their main source of income. According to a recent report, represent nearly 80% of all tipped workers in Vermont; therefore, raising the tipped wage is certainly a women’s issue. When seeking solutions that will bridge the wealth gap for women, raising the sub-minimum wage is one of the most sincere steps forward.
Paying a livable wage will encourage more restaurant workers to seek work here in Vermont. The service industry has grown over 85% since 1990, more than most other sectors. However, as the number of tipped workers continues to grow, they remain in the bottom quarter of all wage earners. Here, in Vermont, tipped workers only make $5.39 an hour before tips. Much of the tourism that sustains our communities is made through the ever-expanding food and beverage businesses. It is a big draw for tourists to check out Vermont’s award-winning restaurants and breweries. During the summer and fall, we see a huge spike in business, and tipped workers are crucial to sustain the local service industry. A raise in the minimum wage will entice more young people to seek such work and create more incentive to stay in Vermont.
I find my work worthwhile and satisfying. But unlike other types of employment that offer a real, hourly wage, relying on tips can be very inconsistent. It is difficult to predict if there will be enough in my paycheck each week. Close to every one out of six tipped workers and their families live in poverty, often requiring the help of public-support programs. Tipped workers make up 46% of the share of workers who require federal assistance nationally. In Vermont, the state pays over $17 million annually in public assistance for tipped workers. While it is great that these options are available, they are not meant to be in place as permanent fixtures of one’s income. Raising the sub-minimum wage will help relieve the burden on these assistance programs, further strengthening Vermont’s economy.
Higher wages will improve job quality and quality of life for thousands of Vermonters. It will be the right step forward for women and people of color, helping to bridge the wage gap and achieve equity across gender and racial lines. It will provide incentive to participate and climb up in Vermont’s thriving local food and small business economy. Most of all, paying a fair wage for tipped workers – and for all Vermont workers – can only increase the health and well-being of our communities.
